Standing against people in the church who teach contrary to the faith is a battle probably none of us wants to fight. Yet, this is part of our calling in the church militant.
Years ago, a seminary professor gave us a simple but profound assignment. He had us read through the whole New Testament, marking down the chief doctrines found in each paragraph. While reviewing the results, I discovered that every book of the New Testament warns the church about false teachers.
Now, after nearly three decades of ministry experience, I see the reason for this consistent, systematic warning of Scripture. As Jesus said, “Many false prophets will arise and lead many astray” (Matt. 24:11). I have witnessed men arise teaching strange doctrines and confusing people. What types of teaching do they promote? That the resurrection has already taken place. That calling people to believe in Jesus is Arminianism. That wearing certain clothing makes you holy. That immorality is allowable. On and on the list could go.
Jude tells us that we are to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The word translated “contend” means “to agonize intensely.” This word is used a few verses later to describe Michael the archangel battling with Satan in a dispute. Jude is urging us to vigorously defend the teaching of the gospel from spiritual forces seeking to derail the church. In Jude, we see three primary tactics in contending for the faith.
Rejecting false teaching. Jude warned that certain people will sneak into the church in order to “deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v. 4). As church history shows, false teachers have arisen who explicitly deny basic Christian theology about Jesus’ person, such as that He is the Christ or that God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 John 2:22). Yet false teaching is often more subtle.
